U.S. House of Representatives, California 48th Congressional District

Marni von Wilpert is a public servant, former prosecutor, and San Diego City Councilmember who has spent her career taking on powerful interests and winning for working people. The daughter of a U.S. Army veteran, Marni served in the Peace Corps during the AIDS epidemic, went on to found a legal clinic to combat discrimination, and later helped write the PRO Act to strengthen workers’ rights. As a Deputy City Attorney and civil prosecutor, she took on opioid manufacturers and price-gouging corporations ripping off consumers. And after flipping one of San Diego’s most conservative council seats, Marni proved she can build the broad coalition needed to win tough races and deliver results on affordability and public safety. After Proposition 50, this newly competitive district is central to regaining the House majority. Marni is exactly the kind of fighter needed to beat MAGA extremist Jim Desmond, who has done nothing but dismiss rising costs and embrace the worst of Donald Trump and Republicans’ agenda that is increasingly out of step with CA-48 voters.

DEMCCO MEMBER ENDORSED

Strongly support this true conservative who will be a real asset in Congress

Openly LGBTQ+

Open seat

Marni will work to address the housing crisis head-on, ensuring working families can afford to live in their communities while fighting economic policies that favor the wealthy few over working people.

Throughout her time in office, Marni has been a proven leader in the fight to keep communities safe and take on the gun lobby. After a mass shooting in San Diego, she authored and passed California’s first law banning the sale, possession, and transportation of untraceable ghost guns—then successfully defended that law after being sued by the NRA.

HJTA-PAC Endorsed

Marni von Wilpert is exactly the kind of leader we need in Congress, and she has the track record to prove it. And as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, she’ll be another standard-bearer in the fight for equality.

LGBTQ+ candidate; pick-up opportunity

CSEA endorsed

Navy veteran, 33-year Delta Air Lines pilot, former San Marcos Mayor, current San Diego County Supervisor

This San Diego-to-Palm Springs district became an open-seat opportunity after Republican Rep. Darrell Issa announced his retirement just ahead of the filing deadline. This district narrowly voted for Harris in 2024 and San Diego City Councilor Marni von Wilpert is strongly positioned to flip this seat.

SD County GOP endorsed

As a navy veteran, mayor, and San Diego County Supervisor, Jim Desmond has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to serving his community and driving commonsense solutions that help local businesses hire, grow, and invest. Jim Desmond understands that free enterprise solutions that allow businesses to build and workers to keep more of their hard-earned money are the keys to improving affordability.

VIG listing; party endorsement listing

Elect Marni von Wilpert for Congress to put CD-48 on the right track for progress and take back the Democratic House majority in 2026.

The DSA supports Jim Desmond in his race for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Click the button below to view our endorsement letter.

DSA endorsed

San Diego Councilmember Marni von Wilpert is running in California’s new 48th Congressional District to flip this district and defeat Republican incumbent Darrell Issa. Von Wilpert will compete in the June 2nd jungle primary, where the top two candidates, regardless of party, will advance to the November general election.

Lincoln Club endorsed

SD & Imperial Counties Labor Council endorsed